Page 114 of Back to December
It takes him another couple of steps to realize I’m frozen in place, and he glances over his shoulder, his eyebrows knit in concern. His gait is stiff as he closes the distance between us.
“You’re tense. Worry wrinkles all over your pretty forehead.” He motions with the hand holding his coffee, sloshing a few drops out of the hole on the lid. “I figure it must be the wedding.”
I chew on my lip, considering for the briefest momentspilling my guts to him. It’s not like he’ll run back to Ella or Laila and tell them what I said. But I don’t want to be the brunt of a joke.
His bright blue eyes tell me that might not be the case, though…
My phone pings with an incoming text, and I sigh in relief. It’s a short-lived feeling once I see what it says.
andrew
We need to talk.
My fingers curl around the phone, hesitating for a beat before I press the button on the side to dim the screen. A heavy weight settles in my chest.
“Bridget?” Weston’s voice is tender as he pulls me out of my thoughts, and it’s unexpected. “You okay?”
“Right as rain,” I reply, pressing my shoulders back. “Just a wedding hiccup. Like you said.”
His jaw ticks beneath his auburn scruff, so I’m pretty sure heknowsI’m full of it. But I need privacy before my gut feeling is confirmed.
We’re stopped in front of The Grotto, and instead of pushing me for answers, he hands me his phone, a familiar image on the screen.
I recognize Wanderlust Refuge, because it’s where Laila stayed last December. It’s a vacation rental, as magical as the rest of this town. I’ve never given a lot of thought to the magic here until Ella’s life changed. And then Laila’s.
I’ve never experienced it because I’ve never been here and open to love at the same time.
For a moment, I wonder what kind of magic it might hold for me.
“It’s a nice place,” he says. “I’m only staying for a week,but maybe you should look into it. For later. De-stress and enjoy a little escape.”
“Well, if you want to fall off the map, this is certainly the place to do it,” I chuckle. I’d rather not mention the magic in case he’s unaware of it. He’ll find out sooner or later.
“That’s the idea,” he replies, and I can’t ignore the way his smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
He’s staying here to avoid the Super Bowl. I lift my eyes and let myself feel a little empathy for him. Despite my irritation with him, I can’t imagine missing out on the biggest game of the year thanks to an injury. I’m also not about to tell him that I know he got it, blocking Cade from a hit.
“I don’t need to fall off the map, Weston,” I say, extending his phone back to him.
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” He tucks his phone into his pocket and continues to eye me. “I’m going to grab lunch and head back to the rental.”
“I’ve got an appointment at Moonlight and Lace for dresses.”
Weston chuckles, taking another sip of his coffee. “Sounds like a rousing good time.”
I roll my eyes and tug my coat a little closer as a biting wind blows down the street.
“It’ll be great,” I insist. Though the words lack the punch I intend.
“Try a little something for me, Spitfire. Leave a cloth out tonight.”
“Andwhywould I do that?”
He takes a few, slow steps backward. “It’s St. Brigid’s Eve. If you leave it out, she’ll bless it and ward off illness and pain.”
I want to argue with him and tell him how silly he is. I’mnot sick or in pain. But the words die on my tongue. I’m definitely feelingsomething,and it’s not joyous.
“What kind of cloth would I leave out?” I ask instead.
